New Zealand has reported its second monkeypox case in a matter of days, but health authorities say the second has no link to the first.
The latest infection comes shortly after New Zealand’s first case, which was reported over the weekend, but the ministry of health said there was no evidence so far of community transmission.
Worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) had reported 6,027 cases as of 7 July, with infections up 77% since the previous report on 27 June.
Monkeypox is already spreading in Australia, with 11 cases reported in New South Wales, but the largest outbreaks are in Europe, which accounts for 80-90% of current cases. According to the UK Health Security Agency, there had been 1,552 confirmed cases of monkeypox as of 7 July – a figure that suggests case numbers are doubling every 15 days.
The WHO is due to meet by 18 July to consider whether monkeypox constitutes a global public health emergency. That designation – the highest level of global alert – applies only to Covid-19 and polio at present.
According to WHO guidelines, monkeypox symptoms are often mild, and usually last from two to four weeks. Severe cases can occur, however, and estimates of case fatality ratio range from less than 1% to 6%. The WHO has reported three deaths since the start of the year.
A spokesperson for the ministry of health said the first case, a person in their 30s, lives in Auckland and had recently returned from overseas travel in a country with reported cases of monkeypox. The second case, also with a record of overseas travel, is isolating in the northern region.
“We have already taken steps to prepare for the arrival of monkeypox. Last month monkeypox was officially listed as a notifiable disease, enabling us to utilise the tools needed to contain any possible spread of the disease including isolation orders and readying contact tracing capabilities,” the spokesperson said.
While anyone can catch the virus through close contact, the outbreak in Europe so far has been clustered around men who have sex with men. According to the latest WHO update, more than 99% of the cases for which gender information was available were among men.
“International cases have been clustered around events where this occurs,” the ministry spokesperson said. “As such we are asking anyone who’s been overseas and attended events connected with the spread of monkeypox to be aware of any symptoms and seek advice.”
Smallpox vaccines offer protection against monkeypox, and in the US and UK governments are making plans to distribute vaccine doses to try to stem the spread and protect those most at risk.
In New Zealand, the health ministry said it would “explore options for access to smallpox vaccines that can be used as part of the targeted prevention of spread of monkeypox in certain situations”.
